Evidence-based Articles

This articles supports recommendations to seal sound surfaces and noncavitated lesions, to use visual assessment to detect surface cavitation, to use a toothbrush or handpiece prophylaxis to clean tooth surfaces, and to provide sealants to children even if follow-up cannot be ensured.

Teeth with fully or partially lost sealant were not at a higher risk of developing caries than were teeth that had never been sealed. The inability to provide a retention-check examination to all children participating in the school sealant programs because of loss to follow0up should not disqualify a child from receiving sealants.

This program provides the participant with an update on a variety of oral health concerns. It includes information on the scope of dental health issues that affect school children, recognizing general discomfort from dental emergencies, and prevention recommendations.

School-Based Dental Sealant Programs – This is a five-part distance learning module designed to ensure that school-based dental sealant program staff have a thorough understanding of the history, operations, and underlying principles of these programs including history, infection control tooth assessment, etc.

Oral Health Connections – Sponsored by the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) offers a wide variety of resources including fact sheets, videocasts, forums and CEUs to assist school nurses improve the dental health of school-age children.